Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Bereavement

Find bereavement help and support from other Mumsnetters. See also your choices after baby loss.

Original poster

When does spotting become something more - help

66 replies

pollingfold · 31/10/2003 10:41

Help...I have been spotting for a few days, although not a huge quantity it is becoming progressively darker brown and more sluggy ( sorry but don't know how else to say it). I have read everywhere here about other peoples experiences, but when should I start to worry (more than I am now) and call doctor. You are all the only people I know to turn to. I have had a few minor cramps - and just put those down to stretching etc. Am I just being paranoid or is this the first stage of m/c. Am at work in stupid open plan office so ability to talk to doctor is limited.

OP posts:
tamum · 31/10/2003 10:44

Oh pollingfold, this isn't going to help at all, but that's exactly how it went when I miscarried. I wouldn't hesitate to call the doctor, but I should stress that I have no idea how pregnant you are so my experience may be completely irrelevant, and I do hope so.

bossykate · 31/10/2003 10:52

pollingfold, i recommend you go to an early pregnancy unit where they can assess you properly, your gp will not be able to do this. the miscarriage association says that in the vast majority of cases bleeding in early pregnancy does not lead to m/c. however, as the possibility exists i would go and get checked out asap. good luck, i really hope it is good news for you

Original poster
pollingfold · 31/10/2003 10:57

Thanks for you words, I have been toying with the idea of going to the 24 st thomas EPU, but feel that there must be women out there in worse states than me i.e havy bleeding. I don't want to cause a fuss if its me just being overly paranoid.

By the way i'm 8 weeks, and I never had any of this in my first pregnancy

OP posts:
bossykate · 31/10/2003 11:01

pollingfold, go, go, go. they are great there. i've been there with both pregnancies (one turned out ok, the other an m/c). they will take your case very seriously. just leave work and go. good luck.

quackers · 31/10/2003 11:01

Pollingfold. Bleeding is bleeding and wether heavy or slight, hospitals always take it seriously. As BK says, the chances are small. I was told about 80% of bleeds amount to nothing. However you need to rule it and make sure things are ok. They will scan you and take your bloods. I bled at 8 weeks with my first, it was when my period would have been due. She was fine. I bled at 6 weeks and 15 weeks with the second and third and lost both. Both losses though did start off with the type of bleeding you describe. I do hope it's good news for you. You won't know unless you go and see them though chucks. Good luck. Pls let us know.xxxxxx

Original poster
pollingfold · 31/10/2003 11:53

Going now, fingers crossed

OP posts:
Cavy · 31/10/2003 11:58

Good, Pollingford. I was gonna say that you haven't see a MW or GP yet, anyway, have you? So just treat it as your first appointment. Let us know what happened?? -- here or on the June 04 thread.

hana · 31/10/2003 12:01

Yes, Pollingfold - I'm glad you went and you shouldn't compare yourself to other women who may be bleeding more, it's your pregnancy that you have to worry about and look after. This sounds so similar to what I experienced last week - I saw my GP the next day who examined my cervix ( ok) and 2 days later I had a scan at the EPU. Sadly for me I did have a m/c a few days later. I of course hope you have positive news after you see someone today, please let us know, fingers crossed for you,
Hana

M2T · 31/10/2003 12:17

Good luck Pollingfold! Fingers-crossed for you.

melliek · 31/10/2003 14:13

Hi there...spotting is always a concern. Mind you I know quite a few people that have had great pregnancies and spotted all along. They usually say as long as it is dark because new blood is bright. With me I did spot all along and m/c at 8 weeks but I also had pain the whole time. Not cramping but a sharp pain on one side and it was not an etopic either. The best thing to do is go to your doctor and request an ultrasound. Nothing will make you feel secure until then. Good luck to you!!!

Original poster
pollingfold · 31/10/2003 18:38

Have been to st thomas'. They were half have you come just to get a scan and half we are here anytime you want. As result felt bad for going. So no instant reassurance or otheriwse from a scan, however they are doing blood tests, one today the second on Sunday, so will hopefully know after that. Apparently it measure the pregnancy hormone, if it is going up alls well , if it going down . Will let you know. DH is being great, don't know what I'd do without him.

OP posts:
bunny2 · 31/10/2003 18:49

Pollingfold, I hope you get good news soon. It is so hard to wait for an answer which is why scans should be so easily available to pregnant women. Pls dont let the attitudes of a few unsympathetic staff upset you.

bossykate · 31/10/2003 19:12

hi pollingfold, i'm sorry they created that impression. they've always been v. good when i've been there. did you have a scan? did they see a heartbeat? or did they just do the blood test? anyway, i really hope you get the right result from your next test, fingers crossed for you, best wishes, bk.

quackers · 31/10/2003 22:28

I'm sorry it wasn't as you expected or any of us for that matter. Did u get a scan??? They are right though a blood test that doubles every36-48 hrs means it's progressing well. They could have told you there and then with a scan though. I'm disappointed that they didn't take your bleeding as serious. very disappointed. It's not the norm, believe me. Hop eall is well for you. Take care xxxxxxx

quackers · 03/11/2003 08:44

Pollingfold? Are you ok? Did you get the second blood test? LOLxxx

Original poster
pollingfold · 03/11/2003 10:17

Thanks for all your messages and concern. I had the second blood test on Sunday, and will get the results between 5 and 6 this evening. The nurse I saw on Sunday at St tommies was lovely, very supportive and made me feel like I had a valid reason for coming to see them.

The results from the first bloods gave a reading of 4600 (?!) which means I am far gone enough to have a scan (booked for Tuesday, and also sets the target for todays results, so fingers crossed for at least 9000.

However I am still bleeding (thankfully still much lighter than period), but it is getting more red and with small clots, and I'm suffering from mild back ache. However no cramping.

I suppose my key question is - Do you have to suffer from both cramps and bleeding for it to be the worse case senario, or is just the bleeding enough for it to be all over? And wehn people says cramps, are we talking bend double cramos or slight twinges?

I keep clinging on to the hope that this is just a "threatened" m/c, although a part of me realises that this could all be for the best if something is wrong with the baby, rather than having to go through a termination later.

OP posts:
lazyeye · 03/11/2003 10:24

Oh Pollingford, I hope things go okay for you.

I don't know how relevant this is as each case must be different. All I can say is, that when I miscarried in June this year, I bled for over a week with no cramps. I only started to quite badly cramp in the second week when the miscarriage started for real, with lots of clots and finally the whole sac. So, I guess you can still be miscarrying but not have the pain. I hope this isn't the case for you.

All the very very best.

quackers · 03/11/2003 11:01

Hi again. glad you felt you received the support you deserve. Wouldn't concern yourself too much with the actual figure. The important thing is that it rises and doubles every 2/3 days as I'm sure they told u. That is what I was told. I'm sure it will be a very tough day ahead. I'm glad they have arranged a scan for you, that will tell you for sure won't it. We're all rooting for you here. Again, the cramps, back ache, everyone is different and I couldn't say what you you are experiencing, periods, m/c and pgcy symptoms are cruelly all too similar!. Fingers crossed. Thinking of you.xxxxxx

Original poster
pollingfold · 03/11/2003 14:24

Heavy bleeding now,a few tears, and hoping that next time works out better.

Thanks for being here. Sorry if I don't come back for a while

OP posts:
slug · 03/11/2003 14:34

Oh I feel for you pollingfold, I had a thretened miscarriage and an emergency scan at 6 weeks. The best moment of my whole pregnancy was watching the heart beat.

Enid · 03/11/2003 14:36

pollingfold, I have hesitated to post before now as I didn't want to seem like the voice of doom, but I am very much afraid that the progress of your bleeding sounds just like my miscarriage last year. The misery of mine was compounded by going for a scan where the baby was actally still alive, only to go on and have a very definite m/c the next day.

I know that there isn't much that people can say, but do take care of yourself.

It may be worth going for a scan later in the week just to finalise things in your own mind.

You will find lots of support on mumsnet from mums who have been through this,
Lots of love, E x

quackers · 03/11/2003 14:59

Oh I'm sorry Pollingfold. It's just crushing isn't it. Do go for you scan. They will confirm this and check if it is complete etc.. Cry, cry some more, give each other plenty of hugs, tlc and chocolate and a big bottle of wine. Give yourself lots of time to accept what's happening. We're all here to chat when you need us and understand if you don't. It's very raw isn't it right now. It brings back the sad memories of all our losses here and they are all together in a better world. Sorry if it sounds a bit naff but I was comforted knowing that.

Azure · 03/11/2003 15:20

pollingfold, I miscarried two weeks ago and know what you are going through (as do many others here). It is such an awful, awful thing to happen. Stay off sick from work this week with your feet up and cry as much as you want. You deserve a lot of tlc.

bossykate · 03/11/2003 16:04

hang in there, pollingfold. i'm glad the nurse was nicer this time. fingers crossed for you.

oh no azure, i'm so sorry, i missed your sad news until now. s*e, isn't it?

quackers · 03/11/2003 16:27

Azure, so sorry to hear that. LOL xxxxxxx When you;re ready, maybe come and see us on ttc?xxxx

Swipe left for the next trending thread